Waterloo Station

Waterloo Station

File:Br01 04 base.png

Owner

Interspace Commerce

Location

D-6, New London

CLASS: Zeus

GRAVITY: Complete

DOCKING: Yes

AMENITIES: Yes

CREW: 1090

The headquarters for the local branch of Interspace Commerce as well as foreign shipping corporations such as Republican Shipping and Universal Shipping, Waterloo Station was reduced to a shadow of its former self in the wake of the ongoing battles in orbit of Planet New London. Once a busy, bustling place, constantly humming with activity as business transactions were conducted around the clock, most operations at Waterloo had been evacuated to Planet Cambridge.

Following cessation of hostilties with Gallia, Interspace began to move operations back to Waterloo, hoping to restore the base it its original purpose and bustle.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes

Cryer Pharmaceuticals Interspace Commerce Deep Space Engineering Universal Shipping Gateway Shipping Kishiro Technologies Border World Exports Ageira Technologies Bounty Hunters Guild Bretonia Mining & Manufacturing Orbital Spa & Cruise Planetform, Inc. The Core

Missions

Interspace Commerce Bounty Hunters Guild

Commodities

Imports

Commodity Price Rheinbier 43$ Sake 48$ Vodka 40$ Oxygen 8$ Water 9$ Food Rations 24$ H-Fuel 183$ Pharmaceuticals 21$ Synth Paste 20$ Vacationers 716$ Wine 74$ Cigars 40$ Xenobiotic Filters 56$ Passengers (Liberty) 533$ Passengers (Kusari) 677$ Passengers (Rheinland) 651$ Passengers (Gallia) 737$ Xeno Relics 245$

Exports

Commodity Price Deployable Mining Container 50,000$ Gin 27$ Crew 371$ MOX 18$ Consumer Goods 20$ Ageira Gate/Lane Parts 849$ Tea 24$ Passengers (Bretonia) 202$

Ships sold

Ship	Class	Price
Clydesdale	Freighter	16,032$
Shihai	Very Heavy Fighter	1,942,966$
Tsuyo	Light Fighter	1,452,352$

News

[834 AS] Joint statement condemns Gallic trade deal

MANHATTAN -- 834 -- In a rare moment of unity, the governments of Bretonia, Crater, Kusari and Liberty have issued a joint statement condemning Rheinland for the Treaty of Oerlikon -- a sweeping free trade agreement with Gallia. All have fought wars against the Gallic Union’s predecessor states, and maintain that there are unresolved wartime disputes the Union refuses to address or accept responsibility for. The group sharply rebuked Rheinland’s intent to provide the Gallic military dictatorship with access to dual-use industrial materials. These will likely be used to revitalize the Gallic Navy, destabilizing surrounding regions. Rheinland responded that it seeks to integrate Gallia into the Sirian economy, creating peace through mutual prosperity.

[833 AS] Rheinland pledges support over Dublin action

HAMBURG -- 833 -- While touring Nanotube production facilities on Altona Station, Trade Minister Baron Tobias von Hueber acknowledged Interspace's recent report on the Gold market. He confirmed Rheinland’s support for any military action Bretonia takes to reassert control over Dublin, condemning calls for a negotiated settlement. He argued that capitulating to terrorists and separatists was "intolerable" and would undermine the territorial sovereignty of all the Houses. Hueber closed his speech by urging Bretonia to take immediate and decisive action to restore the Gold trade, offering Rheinland's industrial services to the Bretonian Armed Forces.

[833 AS] Gold volatility taxes Kusari economy

HONSHU -- 833 -- Kusari has been among the hardest hit by the severely damaged Gold market over recent years. This situation appears only to worsen as Bretonian stockpiles are depleted. Share prices in the high tech manufacturing industries of New Tokyo and Honshu plunged on the recent release of an Interspace report predicting crisis in Gold-reliant market sectors. When pressed for comment, Kusari’s trade ministry declined to respond, referring instead to the Ministry of Defence. Lord Tazuka of the Kusari Office of Intelligence confirmed that discussions were presently ongoing with counterparts in Bretonia, and that progress was anticipated in the near future.

[833 AS] Liberty addresses Gold concerns

LOS ANGELES -- 833 -- While speaking at an industry event, Secretary of Commerce Trombly responded to Interspace’s startling report on the Bretonian Gold Crisis. Liberty has long been reliant on Gold imports for a range of purposes, with the current scarcity causing prices to spike and damaging economic growth. Bretonia’s continued blockade of the Dublin System has so far failed to dislodge the Molly revolutionaries within, while causing further damage to the broader Sirian economy. Trombly confirmed that, “Liberty does not see a viable short-term military resolution to this issue,” and called upon Bretonia to enter into negotiations with the Mollys, offering limited relief on wartime debts as an incentive.

[833 AS] Gold Insecurity Invites Crisis

WATERLOO -- 833 -- Interspace analysts have published a report on the continued volatility of sector-wide Gold supplies, claiming that further instability invites disaster. The reports note the pressures placed on advanced Optronics, Bio-Neural Processor and Quantum Multiplexor manufacturing were already causing spiraling cost increases in adjacent market sectors. Market analysis also indicates that the bulk of Bretonian exports now consist of recycled and in some cases adulterated materials, likely indicating that stockpiles are running low. Interspace has called upon House authorities to collectively find the means of addressing the Dublin question before economic crisis becomes inevitable.

[833 AS] Stabline Prices Spike Over Atka Destruction

SIGMA-17 -- 833 -- Cryer’s share prices have tumbled on the news that Atka Research Station has been destroyed by brutal Outcast pirates. The remote station served as the primary manufacturing point for the revolutionary drug Stabline, which had promised to eradicate Cardamine dependency across the Colonies. Cryer spokeswoman Alicia Fisher confirmed that critical staff and research materials were successfully evacuated due to the timely intervention of private security forces and the GMG paramilitary. She noted that adequate Stabiline stockpiles exist to “manage demand for priority clients” while a replacement facility is sourced. Cryer is believed to have entered emergency negotiations with the governments of both Kusari and Bretonia to explore potential options.

[833 AS] Admiral Found Guilty Over Dublin Disaster

BATTLESHIP ESSEX -- 833 AS -- A military tribunal today announced its findings on the loss of the Dublin system and the conduct of the Battleship Essex on that day. The panel found that Admiral James Byng was ultimately responsible for failing to do his utmost to prevent the loss of Dublin and the New London jump gate. A number of charges were raised regarding the deployment and disposition of forces under Byng's command, the botched boarding of Graves Station and the decision to retreat from the system. The judges finally concluded that Byng's conduct would typically have warranted a capital sentence, but commuted this to a dishonorable discharge on account of the admiral's exemplary service during the Gallic War. Representatives speaking on Byng's behalf decried the tribunal as a sham and claimed that he was being scapegoated by corporate, government and intelligence interests who bore actual culpability for the uprising. The Battleship Essex continues to maintain a blockade of Dublin, with government sources stating that the Molly terrorists would be crushed and the system brought to heel in short order.

[833 AS] Cambridge on the Line

NORFOLK -- 833 AS -- The number of recorded Corsair incursions across Cambridge has increased by 193%% in the last 3 years. According to Captain Edwards of the Battleship Norfolk, this is simply a result of the successes in detecting and reacting to attacks. "You can't respond to a Corsair you don't know is there," he noted. "The Cambridge Line ensures we know when and where to deploy our resources for maximum effect." Retired Major Jane Gilliam disagrees. "The Line was never fit for purpose," she says. "The Regents lobbied London to keep it, and so the pantomine continues." It is speculated that the spike in Corsair raids may have been prompted by increased resistance elsewhere, or a shift in their internal politics. Regardless of their true motivations, Interspace Commerce has recognised the elevated peril and adjusted its premiums accordingly.

[832 AS] Cardamine Withdrawal Epidemic!

MANHATTAN -- 832 AS -- Reports of Cardamine withdrawal-related hospitalizations have surged to unprecedented levels, with a specific hospital on Planet Manhattan recording a staggering 450%% increase compared to the previous year. A growing number of addicts are seeking emergency medical care, apparently unable to obtain their regular dose of the highly addictive drug. Symptoms of withdrawal rapidly progress into severe sickness, pushing many of these individuals into critical condition. While this troubling trend is observed throughout the Sirius colonies, Liberty is bearing the brunt of the crisis among the four major Houses. Remarkably, even Rheinland, where historical data indicated low Cardamine consumption, has witnessed a notable rise in medical cases linked to the illicit narcotic. Experts postulate that the extensive black market responsible for Cardamine distribution might be facing a shortage, or worse, that Outcast factions deliberately curtail the supply to bolster demand. Regrettably, no law enforcement agency has been available for comment on these concerns. The long-standing debate over Cardamine's controversial nature, juxtaposing its euphoric and purported medicinal qualities with the genetic alterations it inflicts upon long-term users, continues to echo. A key point of contention revolves around the plight of innocent consumers caught in this crisis. Yet, according to independent polls, a substantial majority of our viewers maintains that the substance must remain banned. In response to this escalating crisis, Cryer Pharmaceuticals has announced a forthcoming press conference. During the event, the company intends to unveil plans for an expanded production of Stabiline, their touted "wonder drug". This announcement promises affordable access to Stabiline for all patients grappling with Cardamine withdrawal, sparking a remarkable 15%% surge in Cryer Pharmaceuticals' stock following the revelation.

[831 AS/747 AGS] Gate Corps Clash Over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin jump gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network. Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection. Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS] Bretonia Announces Poole Draw-Down

NEW LONDON -- 831 AS -- The Bretonian government has announced a controlled withdrawal from the Poole system, citing ballooning costs and an increasingly strained state budget. Poole was once of critical importance to Bretonia, briefly hosting a Super Gate to Liberty during the Gallic War, and acting as a launching point for Bretonia's colonial ambitions in Omega 48. With the end of the war and Bretonia's withdrawal from Planet Gran Canaria, Poole's prominence waned. The cost of policing the system and maintaining infrastructure has significantly outweighed collected tax revenue in recent years, with Planetform's Terraforming Gas operations reporting disappointing year on year returns.DSE has already confirmed that it will begin deconstruction operations shortly, with the dismantling of the Cambridge jump gate expected to be completed by 833 AS. Planetform has confirmed its intention to withdraw prior to this point, while settling shareholder anxiety with the announcement of promising preliminary findings for a replacement site in Newcastle.

[831 AS] Bretonian Focus Turns on Mollys

SHEFFIELD -- 831 AS -- The Bretonia Police Authority has announced that the eradication of the Molly movement is their top priority. In light of the loss of the Dublin system and the seemingly connected 'Blackout', the dangerous terrorist movement has leaped to the top of Bretonia's most wanted board. Bounties on Molly terrorists have doubled, with Bounty Hunters flocking to the beleaguered House. Guild Master Tina Hale of Sheffield Station commented that, "this is a good deal for a job that's less dangerous than many of our Edge World boards." Despite this, prospective Hunters should be cautious, as the Mollys are notoriously cunning and brutal fighters. The bounties and Police crackdown do appear to be having some initial effects however, with reports of Molly attacks on shipping in the Cambridge and Newcastle systems falling over recent weeks.

[831 AS] Bretonia Withdraws From Dublin System

WATERLOO -- 831 AS -- Markets are down across Sirius as the sector grapples with the twin shocks of The Blackout and Bretonia's withdrawal from the Dublin system. Molly separatists appear to have exploited a worker revolt on Graves Station to take control of and later destroy the base. Of even greater concern is the attack that crippled the New London jump gate, forcing the Battleship Essex to retreat. EFL have accused the gate destruction and faulty Ageira infrastructure of causing The Blackout, which the Liberty corporation denies. The Mollys have since declared their ownership of Dublin, while Bretonia has imposed a strict blockade, jeopardizing the sector's Gold supply. Gold exports previously made up a significant element of Bretonian state revenue, helping to fund post-war recovery efforts. While the reconstruction of LD-14 in the Leeds system offers some relief, Interspace Commerce has already downgraded Bretonia's sovereign credit rating, citing increased volatility and risk for lenders. Bretonia has confirmed that action to retake the system will be launched shortly, providing assurances to partners in the other Houses.

[831 AS/747 AGS] 'Blackout' Causes Jump Network Fail

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS/747 AGS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When the network resumed 31 hours later, restored communications broke the news of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged the market into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates indicate that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of culpability for the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's jump gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible. Independent researchers in Cologne and the Edge Worlds have also announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, with data about 'The Pulse' being widely shared across the neural net in recent days. House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to comment on their own observatories' data.

[831 AS] Cost of Rebuilding too High?

NEW LONDON -- 831 AS -- Bretonia continues to face a difficult and lengthy recovery process following the conclusion of the Gallic War. The Bretonian people initially accepted this, and quietly pledged to come together and struggle on. While Bretonia is now witnessing an extraordinary rate of growth, it has come at the cost of severe cuts and harsh industrial quotas. Professor Timothy Ball of the Economic Review Institute says, "the recovery we've witnessed so far has been uneven, mainly benefiting Bretonian corporations and Crown agencies. If dividends of recovery are not felt by the average citizen, this inequality could become a major point of domestic political contention."

[830 AS] Interspace Hails 150 years of prosperity

BONN -- 830 -- Interspace has hosted a lavish celebration aboard Bonn Station, feteing celebrities, aristocrats and Rheinland politicians for the station’s 150 year anniversary. Interspace’s relationship with Rheinland has not always been prosperous however -- they suffered huge losses when Rheinland nationalized the Trade Lanes in 521 AS, and again when Interspace was ejected again during the Hudson War. Similarly, Interspace’s business practices have long been controversial in Rheinland, with many seeing them as a fiscal instrument of Liberty influence. Despite this, executives are keen to present an optimistic picture of mutual cooperation with the new Federal Empire. For the time being at least, everyone is smiling.

[829 AS] Marauding in Manchester

MANCHESTER -– 829 AS -- Reports from the Manchester system have now been confirmed by BPA and Bretonian intelligence officials: Liverpool Border Station, guarding over the Magellan jump gate and serving as the command center for police operations in the system, has been destroyed in what is being deemed a terrorist attack. Yesterday at 2200 hours SMT, nearby Sheffield Station and Kingston Border Station received automated distress signals from Liverpool, indicating an emergency aboard the station. Guild patrols redirected from Sheffield arrived on the scene within minutes, finding the border station destroyed. Search and rescue operations headed by Guild and BPA units commenced immediately and successfully salvaged several escape pods bearing several dozen survivors, who were immediately delivered to hospitals on New London. BPA spokesperson Sandra Halling held a press conference earlier this morning. According to joint police and BIS investigations, Liverpool was destroyed by antimatter explosives planted aboard the station. Their detonation caused a catastrophic chain reaction, resulting in the station's own reactors melting down and exploding. Of the estimated one-hundred-twenty persons on board at the time of the attack, seventy-eight have been reported as dead or missing. \So far, no party has taken credit for this heinous attack. However, Bretonian police surmises that it was likely perpetrated by either the criminals known as the Mollys or the infamous pirate organization, the Lane Hackers. The attack occurred following a significant redeployment of local Armed Forces units to the Cortez system for the purpose of joint operations with Libertonian security forces. This, says Halling, may have allowed terrorist sympathizers to exploit undermanned BPA patrols and smuggle illegal explosives through Manchester's ice fields, onto Liverpool Station. While investigations continue, Bretonian Police Authority has reinforced patrols within Manchester and established traffic controls at Kingston Border Station and Birmingham Station. Traffic to and from Liberty has been advised to reroute through the Cortez system.

[825 AS] Sigma conflict escalates as Kusari joins war

GAS MINER NAHA -- The ongoing conflict in the Sigmas has escalated further after Kusari declared war on Rheinland. Kusari accuses Rheinland of severe breaches of the Boorman Treaty, and the murder of its citizens in Sigma-21. Rheinland has denied the charges and demanded Kusari withdraw its forces from the systems it considers claimed territory. Fighting has already spread to Sigma-13, with neutral shipping temporarily holding in Honshu and Frankfurt to avoid being hit in crossfire. H-Fuel prices have spiked with the supply disruption, prompting urgent calls for de-escalation and peace talks from Bretonia and Liberty. Gallia has confirmed its support for Rheinland's position, encouraging them to ""defend their legal rights and territorial integrity".

[825 AS] War Returns to the Sigmas!

SIGMA-21 -- 825 -- Rheinland has declared war on the Gas Miners Guild (GMG), with both sides claiming to be victims of acts of unprovoked aggression. Rheinland has announced its intent to expel the GMG from Sigma-15 and 21, which it considers to be claimed territory. The GMG in return aims to enforce treaty terms from the end of the 80-Years War that it says establishes Guild sovereignty over the entire Sigma cluster. Kusari has offered to mediate the dispute, while Liberty and Bretonia have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities over fear of disruption to the sector’s strategic H-Fuel supplies. Rheinland has advised it will not obstruct Sigma H-Fuel shipments by vessels operating under neutral flags. Interspace has substantially raised premiums for convoys in the region.

[817 AS] Planetform sanctioned over disputed terraforming

PLANET ATKA -- 818 -- Rheinland's Reichstag today passed a motion applying sanctions to Planetform Inc, condemning the Bretonian corporation for its work on Planet Atka in Hudson. The motion prohibits Planetform from entering or purchasing goods in Rheinland until such a time as the company ceases work on Atka and ""desists in furthering Liberty’s imperialism"". The move has drawn protests from both Bretonia and Liberty, and severs Planetform’s access to Rheinland-sourced Terraforming Gasses. Planetform representatives have called for peace talks between Rheinland and Liberty over Hudson’s status, arguing that a terraformed planet in the dangerous Independent World would mutually benefit both.

[814 AS] Reichstag Condemns Bretonian War

NEW BERLIN -- 814 AS -- Rheinland's Reichstag today issued a statement condemning Bretonia’s use of concealed mines in defense of Planet Harris. The open letter accuses Bretonia of violating the Boorman Treaty, which prohibits the militarization of House border worlds, and bans the use of passive weapons that pose severe danger to civilians in those same territories. The statement concluded with calls for Bretonia to withdraw from Tau-31 immediately. Chancellor Rheinhardt’s government has refused to endorse the motion, clarifying that this expression by individual representatives is not Rheinland’s state position. Controversially, a first draft of the statement has also been leaked, revealing criticism of attacks on neutral civilian shipping by the Kusari Naval Forces was removed.

[813 AS] Rheinland responds to Tau events

NEW BERLIN -- 813 AS -- Rheinland’s Foreign Office has issued a formal statement regarding the escalating tensions between Bretonia and Kusari in the Taus. Rheinland has condemned Bretonia for what it calls “diplomatic brinkmanship” over territorial disputes, leading to escalation that may now realistically result in war. The Foreign Office called for both sides to pause and consider independent mediation in either Rheinland or Liberty. Reichstag members also expressed their sympathy for the IMG’s plight, as the civilian organization finds itself caught between two belligerent powers. Chancellor Steller has confirmed he will attend the Los Angeles Summit called by President Jacobi for promoting peace between the colonies.

[807 AS] Colony War Demilitarization Complete

ODER SHIPYARD -- 807 -- With the deconstruction of the Battleship Goethe, the Rheinland Government has announced that the post-Colony War process of demilitarization has been completed. The Federal Audit Office has also provided a damning report to the Schweizer Commission, indicating that the bulk of the hulls examined were built to cheap, 80-Years War grade, rather than the modernized standards billed for by Daumann and Republican. Opposition politicians have called for the corporations to be charged with fraud. Addressing the Reichstag, Councillor Stellar announced that the day "closed a door on a dark period of Rheinland’s history".

[805 AS] Houses ratify Denver Convention

PLANET DENVER -- 805 -- President Jacobi has thanked delegates from all the Houses for attending a much anticipated summit on Planet Denver. The President initially requested the meeting shortly after the Colony Wars’ conclusion, however progress was blocked when Kusari refused to participate in any meeting attended by Rheinland. With those issues now resolved, talks were held on a range of issues including economic recovery and joint security. Notably, the ratified Denver Convention upheld laws tightly restricting the trade of alien Artifacts, and explicitly prohibited research on “live” Artifacts. Several clauses were ultimately removed from the Convention, with provisions on border world resource exploitation being dropped over Bretonian and Kusari disagreements."

[801 AS] Rheinland High Command missing?

NEW BERLIN -- 801 -- As the smoke clears following the cessation of recent hostilities, citizens across the Colonies have two simple questions: what happened, and why? As the Rheinland Provisional Government looks to answer those questions, it has become apparent that the House’s senior military leadership has vanished. According to anonymous sources, the whereabouts of the Military High Command is unknown, with numerous Admirals disappearing along with their flagships. The Rheinland Federal Police and Liberty Security Force have posted bounties for the missing officers after formal desertion charges were pressed.

[801 AS] Provisional Rheinland Government demilitarizes

POTSDAM -- 801 -- The Provisional Rheinland Government has begun urgent and immediate demilitarization. PRG representatives advised this was an absolute necessity to prevent Rheinland’s imminent financial collapse, and had been a requirement for both Bretonia and Liberty to drop heavy reparation demands. It is expected that these cuts will reduce the Rheinland Military’s headcount by over 80%%, leaving tens of thousands unemployed. This will reduce the force to levels last seen in 794 AS, prior to Chancellor Niemann’s build-up programme. Already huge formations of capital ships have been mothballed in orbit of Potsdam, awaiting shipyard space for deconstruction.

[801 AS] Kusari imposes embargo on Rheinland

NEW TOKYO -- 801 -- Shogun Edo has announced that a full economic embargo of Rheinland will be imposed by Kusari due to the outrages of the Colony Wars. Liberty’s President Jacobi has taken a leading role in mediation between Rheinland and the other Houses, with the Provisional Rheinland Government offering a message of condolence to the Kusari people for the actions of the toppled previous regime. Despite this, Kusari has remained resolute that no normalization of relations will be considered until full reparations are made for the devastation in Honshu and New Tokyo, and the many crimes Kusari alleges were perpetrated there.

[801 AS] Colonies Rebuild, Chancellor MIA

NEWS ARCHIVE - 801 AS MANHATTAN -- It's been nearly two weeks since hostilities between Rheinland and the other Houses came to an abrupt end, and peace has settled over the colonies. Despite many lingering questions, government officials remain tight-lipped about what has triggered this sudden change. President Jacobi pardoned the leaders of the military coup against her, who are all recovering from what has been officially called "encephalitic viral infections." Insiders speculate that these infections may be linked to recently discovered evidence of a bizarre mind-control plan initiated by the Chancellor to bring down the major Houses. Meanwhile, the Chancellor and several of his staff are still missing at this time and together face a long list of charges. Newly appointed government officials in Rheinland are now looking into recent events and are said to be enlisting even Liberty's help in their investigation. In other news, LSF Commander Jun'ko Zane and freelancer, Edison Trent, both former enemies of the state, have been granted full pardons and have received the Lone Star for bravery, the highest decoration any individual in the colonies can receive. Though the details of their heroism have been sealed by executive order, they were honored today in a ceremony by President Jacobi, who said, "I, Liberty and the rest of the colonies owe you both a debt of gratitude. It is through your efforts, and people like you, that Sirius will embrace the future. We salute you."

[801 AS] Rheinland ends all hostilities

FULDA -- 801 -- With the disappearance of Chancellor Niemann and the installation of the Liberty-backed Provisional Rheinland Government, an immediate cessation of all hostilities has been ordered. Rheinland forces have begun withdrawals on all fronts. Reports from Kusari have confirmed that the Northern Fleet has retreated from New Tokyo and Honshu, however it has not returned to Rheinland or recognized the authority of the PRG. Government sources believe the fleet may have deserted, with Rheinland's remaining loyalist security forces being ordered to high-alert as a precaution against pro-Niemann coup attempts.

Rumors

Interspace Commerce

Few people understand what Interspace Commerce really does. We are primarily in the insurance business - specifically, hazard insurance for ships and cargos that use Ageira-manufactured Jump Gates and Trade Lanes in the Sirius Sector. Stations like this one are both major trade hubs, and control stations from which we keep track of insured cargo. Ageira was able to retarget the gates leading to Leeds in Newcastle and New London to eachother after Bretonia lost control of Leeds. That was a smart move by those eggheads. With Newcastle still tied to the Bretonian network, the economic might of that system will keep this house alive. It won't be enough to save them from the coming storm I fear. There is currently one hotspot in this sector. The Trade Lane stretch through the Keswick Cloud in the Cambridge system has been the site of several successful attacks during the past few weeks. Several repeat Molly and Corsair offenders have been identified and marked for termination. Once there is a decent price on their heads, it is only a matter of time. We developed USI technology in tandem with Ageira. It allows us to track shipments anywhere on the Trade Lane grid using powerful ship-sized scanners. There is no easy way for shippers to cheat us by overstating the value of their cargos in case of loss, or attempting to ship high-value cargos without our knowledge. This allows us to set our rates at a premium and minimize fraud. The Lane Hackers' theft of our proprietary technology has been most unfortunate. Ageira is in the process of patching the software and modifying the hardware scanners to make it Lane Hacker proof, at which point we feel that full confidence in IC and Ageira will be restored. Problem is, so far they seem to keep up with the changes we make. I don't like it, it suggests either Ageira or ourselves have a leak quite high in the organization. Bretonia threw caution to the wind when they evacuated Leeds. In an effort to slow the Gallic advance, they've "disabled" both the New London and Newcastle gates in the system. In other words, they've done whatever they could to the structures to make sure they stopped working. Wrecked them. Do they really think a Jump Gate can be repaired after that kind of damage? I very much doubt Interspace will foot the bill for rebuilding those gates, even if Bretonia ever reclaims Leeds. The mess in Leeds is complete now. The Kusari invasion already did severe damage to various of the Trade Lanes in the system, to the point where we had to reroute communications to the Tau systems over Kusari. Control of the Tau lanes is now handled from Roppongi, not us. I can only guess at the state of the Gate/Lane network in Leeds itself. Best guess? Total loss. The Tau-31 to Tau-23 Jump Gates are functional, but with two subsequent wars plagueing the region, the gates were never turned over to the Bretonian government officially. There's going to be one massive claim by Bretonia, since the liability for the project failing lays with us. A Gallic military invasion wasn't in any of the exclusion clauses. I suppose we knew it was a risky venture when it was started. If you are looking to get into Bounty Hunting, either as a freelancer or as a Bounty Hunters Guild member, feel free to check the roster over there for any available missions. There are always troublemakers out there, and we pay good credits for anyone willing to help remove these threats to commerce. Bretonia has been quite agreeable to the terms of Interspace, unlike Kusari and Rheinland, who defaulted on our perfectly legal Trade Lane financing terms in 521. Because Liberty was not ready to back us up, we lost significant leverage and were forced to transform our company from finance to insurance. If you ask me, Liberty has only hurt itself with that - If Ageira had simply deactivated the gates remotely, we'd have had all the leverage we need. We have information that the Corsairs and Hessians are engaged in some sort of territorial dispute in the outer Omega systems. This has distracted them somewhat from fully exploiting the vulnerable position of the Trade Lanes through Omega-3 and Omega-7. Apparently, there are no Jump Holes directly linking those systems. We work in tandem with the Bounty Hunters. They perform the unpleasant job of criminal disposal, much like the Deep Space workers handle the manual labor of building and maintaining the Trade Lanes and Jump Gates for Ageira, and ultimately, us. We offer more bounties then any other company out there, and tailor them to specific regions. We know where the hotspots are since that's where most insurance claims get filed.

Bounty Hunters Guild

I've been on the Outcast trail for a couple of months on deep recon for IC. We've mapped it all the way from Edinburgh to New London. Next month Operation Hailstorm commences -- loads of Bounty Hunters, Bretonian military, and police going to clear out the Outcasts from Bretonia for good. Me, I'm a bit skeptical. Had a fight with some Gaians last week near the Newcastle Jump Gate. You would think those bastards would have joined us in the fight against those cursed invaders, not continue to hit Bretonia while they're down. But no, those pansies seem to have thrown their lot in with Gallia, just as they did with Kusari. It's a bloody miracle they still have any support left on Cambridge. IC thinks we're scum, but they need us. They never set foot outside their sanitized offices. Wouldn't last a second out where they send us. But I guess that's why they pay us so damn well. I don't need to like the folk who sign my paycheck. I just do the job they ask me to do. Interspace doesn't care much about what happens off of Trade Lanes or Jump Gates. That's why Junkers and Hogosha never really register on their radar. They doesn't see the obvious role the Junkers play in supplying and harboring criminals. The Corsairs are pretty occupied with the Red Hessians in Omega-5 right now. That's a good thing for Bretonia. If the Corsairs didn't have to devote all those ships and manpower to protect their right flank against the Rheinlanders, there would be some serious pillaging going on in this system. Interspace pays the best of all. You'd better be good, but they'll reward you well if you can get the job done. It's funny, I've been working with Interspace for years now, they reward faithful service. The Bretonian government can't pay out for any contracts right now, so it's good to have a job.

Deep Space Engineering

One of the company rules for as long as I can remember is that nobody touches Trade Lane or Jump Gate construction without LSF clearance. Not that anyone respects it anymore. Not after what the LSF was rumored to have pulled in that conflict in 800 AS - couple of powerhungry bastards, the lot of them. This is civilized space here. The Borderworlds are much more risky. I hear the company is gearing up for another construction project in Omega-3. I won't sign up for that - I saw my share of Hispanic pirates back in Tau-23. Vicious bastards, those Outcasts. I hear the Corsairs are even worse. I've decided to ditch ship and head for Rheinland. Apparently Gallia isn't too interested in them right now. I saw firsthand in Tau-23 what's headed this way. If you're smart, you'll leave as well.

Universal Shipping

The loss of Leeds hasn't affected Liberty as much as you'd think. Bretonia produced Hull Panels there, but we can get those from Kusari as well. Still, it's not a good sign. If Gallia continues to advance, Liberty is likely next on their list. I hope our Navy is smart and decides to do something about it well before then. I'm just making the hop up from London with supplies like Oxygen, Water, H-Fuel, and Food. I'll probably head back down to pick up my Gold shipment for Manhattan after a few days of rest. You don't cross the Independent Worlds with half an eye shut, not if you plan to survive the trip. Universal hauls Trade Lanes Parts wherever there are Trade Lanes between Liberty and the House capitols. Interspace has stations like this one in all the capitol systems, which are used to store the Gate and Lane Parts temporarily. Then Deep Space takes over and ships them to the actual construction or repair sites.

NOTE: Page generated on the 07/06/2024 at 15:55:46 UTC